5 days, mornings only or 3 full days?

[mrsbean78]

Just looking for some perspectives.

I am firming up my return to work plans (e.g. booking childcare), even though it is some months away.

I am lucky in that I have a great deal of flexibility from my employer and can choose my working hours (to an extent - I have to work around certain constraints as I have different parts to my job).

Having crunched all sorts of numbers and confirmed availability at a Children's Centre, I have worked out I can go back to work three days and have two days off with my boy or could work five short days, 3 mornings only (8.30-12.30) and 2 slightly longer days (8.30-2).

The benefits of the 5 day arrangement would be that ds and I will spend considerably longer together each day, I would always pick him up in daytime, there would be less rushed evening routines, our commute home will be about half an hour shorter and I feel it's more consistent.

3 days would give me two days off though and will cost about £40 less a week. There's less flexibility for annual leave (but not such a big consideration for me as I'm not really allowed take hols in term time anyway).

WWYD?

I'd do the 3 days at work, then have 4 days a week to spend with your son.

I work 3 days a week atm and it works well, as long as I stay organised and have quick teas ready for the days I work as both ds's are hard work when they're tired and hungry (they're 4.5 and 1.11).

Any chance you could do slightly shorter than full days for 4 days and have one day off? (between your 2 suggestions?)

I'd go for the 3 full days tbh. I always feel that if you have to go to work for even a few hours it kind of takes up the whole day? Kind of condenses your working week and gives you 4 full days with him. ALos worth considering that if he is ill then you won't need to miss so many 'days' off, iyswim?

But at least with the 3 full days it's all over and done with in one go (if you do Mon,tue,wed), then you can have extra long weekends.
Also £40 less a week is not to be sniffed at, almost £160 a month.
Also on the days off during the week you could visit places with DS when it is MUCH quieter than the weekend

I'm not so worried about the illness side of things as I will be taking a full place at nursery if I do the five days (and still only £40 dearer), so I can move things about if necessary.

I'm a bit loathe to lose this flexibility as I was so used to having sessions I could 'move about' if I needed to..

I should have said that either way, work will include three different settings, so the three days will too e.g. 2 mornings in one school, one morning in clinic, 3 afternoons in another at opposite sides of the city. This is a bit of a logistic nightmare, believe me.. five days would go one morning clinic, 2 mornings in one school and the longer days in the other school. I think it might be 'cleaner' and easier to get organised and out of the settings if I wasn't travelling across the city in the day (with the bonus that the nursery is beside one of the schools).

I had always thought three days but the commute is soooooooo long in the evenings (an hour and a half vs 45-50 mins on a clear run) and dh can't really help out with picking up/dropping off as he goes on site visits all over the UK, he might need to leave at 5 one day and be back at 7 the next

It's such a PITA. I wish I could get another job closer home but would have to pay back my maternity (and no jobs in my field where I live). Grrr.

If you do 3 days, try to avoid working a Monday. I do much better annual leave-wise not working a Monday, as Bank Holidays are pro-rata'd. I get 30 something hours extra annual leave this year, but only have to take 7.5 hours of it for a Bank Holiday (only Good Friday this year).

It's not always this good, but it always works in my favour a bit.

I was going to suggest 3 full days, it's what I do, but on reading your last post the 5 short days suit you better.

I'd do the 3 days

3 Full days - especially having seen you will have to pay for 5 full days at Nursery. Don't underestimate how easy it is to "stay a few minutes longer" knowing DS is being cared for still. It makes it easy for people to drag you into meetings etc when really you should be packing up to leave.

I do 3 full days, spread out Mon, Wed, Fri. People soon got used to me having to leave at 5 no matter what and they quite happily book meetings on my work days if they need me. It took a few months though!

I like the spread of days as it means I am not away from DD for more then 1 day and if work need something they only have to work 1 day in a row without me They are both my Children in that sense! (although the staff can be far more demanding!)

What makes it easier now is that if there is something urgent at work or a training course etc to go on, Nursery will swap a day or I pay for an extra day - makes work happy and DD loves it so much now she would go every day!

Oh and personally - either way I would go for a Nursery near to home so you are commuting alone. Nothing worse than a screaming and tired DC when negotiating heavy traffic!

I do 3 days and love having the monday and friday free. you get time to still meet up with your friends for coffee etc.

I finish early on one day but by the time I get home, wash up the breakfast stuff, sort the mail, make the beds, its almost school gate time so I haven't really gained much

3 days on 4 days off is my recommendation

I would go for 3 full days too. I am in a similar situation. I currently do 19 hrs and work Weds AM and full days Thurs/Fri. I have got a new job with 4 more hours. I have the choice of 5 mornings, Tues/Weds full day plus Thurs/Fri AMs or 3 full days Tues-Thurs.
I am so glad I can still have Monday's off as you do benefit when you get extra lieu leave pro rata.
I am not keen on working mornings as I have a 6 year old and a little one who will be 2 next month. I find it hard getting them both ready 3 days a week and getting to work so I would find 5 days a week a nightmare.
I also like the fact I will have 4 days off a week if I work 3 days a week so I think I am going to go for this.
Get a job closer to home as soon as you can! School days are only round the corner and it will make your life easier being close to home.

I started a new part-time job when my daughter turned one - 17.5 hours a week over five mornings. At first I was a bit apprehensive about how I would find this working pattern but I love it! I am able to pick my daughter up by 12.30 each day, giving us every afternoon together, and in terms of managing my workload I personally think it is easier than it would be if I was doing, say, 3 full days instead. I don't feel I am every having to play catch-up with my work (or coming in to a ton of emails) as I am in the office for a few hours everday.
Just my opinion, but I would say don't rule out the five mornings option